I've hesitated to put this episode out, because I generally try to take an optimistic, encouraging tone. But we can't get better until we accept the reality of our situation. So, here's to each of us, and the building industry as a whole, staring reality in the eyes - and getting better. Wishing everyone nothing but success! Enjoy the episode. Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTIMAL SHOP. Thank you to our amazing brand part...
Jan 02, 2025•13 min
At the most fundamental level, there are really only two strategies in business, and only one that works for small businesses. Most home builders get this wrong, and end up stuck in the middle, never generating the profits they should. In this episode Jared discusses the risks of getting your strategy wrong, and the opportunities once you find the one that truly sets your business apart. Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTI...
Nov 25, 2024•10 min
Joey Fentress is the founder and owner of Proform Builds , a Seattle-based luxury home builder. Joey recently expanded his operation into Austin, where I was introduced to him and his team. The level of professionalism with which Joey runs his business is evident in just a short conversation, and it's reflected in the quality of their builds. This episode is a conversation with Joey about his in-house labor, and how he manages that aspect of his business. Enjoy the episode, and if you like this ...
Aug 14, 2024•29 min
A quick 7-minute episode to help you make more progress and find some big wins in your business. Credit to Tim Ferriss for his recent blog post on the topic, the inspiration for this episode. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTIMAL SHOP. Thank you to our amazing brand partners Subzero Wolf Cove Grand Openings...
May 15, 2024•9 min
We've been obsessed for over a year now with different AI apps that can help home builders. This is an extremely short episode on the best we've found. Enjoy! If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTIMAL SHOP. Thank you to our amazing brand partners Subzero Wolf Cove Grand Openings...
Apr 10, 2024•7 min
This is one of the most inspiring episodes I've recorded. I have mentored Joe Hodge over the last few years as he set out on his dream to start his own home building company. Starting alone is difficult enough, but the market forces over the last few years added major complications as Joe came out of the gate. But Joe is a fighter (literally and metaphorically), and built a resoundingly successful project even with serious headwinds. We visit on both his wins and his lessons learned from this fi...
Mar 28, 2024•28 min
Gossett & Co recently closed two construction loans with Arixa Capital , and sat down with executive Greg Hebner and his team during their visit to Austin. The group discusses the Austin market, California immigration, the latest market and financing trends, qualities of a good lender, and more. Thanks for listening. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to ...
Feb 07, 2024•55 min
This is the final installment of our series on Charlie Munger, an episode devoted to the memory of the late investor who recently passed away. In this episode we cover the reason to read, the need to get into a great business, and the only way to run a good company. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTIMAL SHOP. Thank you t...
Jan 24, 2024•9 min
In the third installment of our mini-series on Charlie Munger, we delve deeper into the wisdom of one of the greatest investors and thinkers of our time. This episode continues up our series with a focus on Munger's most impactful strategies and philosophies that have influenced generations of investors and entrepreneurs. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to...
Dec 04, 2023•12 min
Part 2 of our mini-series on Charlie Munger, one of the greatest investors of all time. He’s also one of the most profound thinkers of our era. This continues a multi-part series of short episodes dissecting some of Jared’s favorite lessons from the investing giant. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! Also, we just released new products to take your home building company to the next level at the BUILDING OPTIMAL SHOP. And don't f...
Oct 27, 2023•7 min
Charlie Munger is one of the greatest investors of all time. He’s also one of the most profound thinkers of our era. This begins a multi-part series of short episodes dissecting some of Jared’s favorite lessons from the investing giant. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! And don't forget to sign up for our NEWSLETTER where we have all kinds of good tips and info you don't get with the podcast. Tools to make more money and grow y...
Sep 21, 2023•13 min
This is a departure from our regular programming - Jared shares a very short story from World War II, and how you can apply it as a problem-solving model in your own business. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! And don't forget to sign up for our NEWSLETTER where we have all kinds of good tips and info you don't get with the podcast. Looking for tools to make more money and grow your biz? In addition to almost 100 free episodes ...
Aug 04, 2023•9 min
Trey Farmer is an architect with Forge Craft Architecture here in Austin. We interviewed him previously on #63: Lessons From a Passive House Build . Today we revisit some of those passive home principles and also discuss some of his beliefs for building healthier, more grid-resilient homes. If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do us a favor and leave us a review on Spotify or Apple! And don't forget to sign up for our NEWSLETTER where we have all kinds of good tips and info you don't ge...
Apr 25, 2023•28 min
It's hard to spend a few minutes chatting with Jacob Deva Racusin without leaving inspired. He is the Director of Building Science and Sustainability for New Frameworks, an innovative, socially inclusive design/build firm in Vermont. He also serves as an Embodied Carbon Analyst and BEAM Trainer with Builders for Climate Action. In this conversation we discuss Jacob's ideas on how to minimize the embodied carbon in our buildings or even turn them into carbon sinks. Jacob also shares his benefits ...
Mar 20, 2023•56 min
In this conversation we sit down with Dan Kolbert, co-author of Pretty Good House, and owner of Kolbert Building in Portland, Maine, to discuss high performance homes, the next evolution in building, and Dan's advice in today's economy. Links mentioned: Pretty Good House Book Water in Buildings, by Bill Rose Christine Williamson's Instagram Huber Engineered Wood Climate Zone Map Timber HP BEAM Estimator BS and Beer Tools to make more money and grow your biz Need a little help growing your busine...
Feb 12, 2023•30 min
We have a new, slightly different (and hopefully upgraded) direction for Building Optimal, and are excited to share it with you in this episode. We also visit with Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital for Independence Title. Mark is one of the most respected real estate market analysts and forecasters in Texas, and shares some of his insights with us in this short, 25-minute episode. In full disclosure, 75% of the information Mark Shares is specific to Austin or Texas, but 25% cov...
Dec 04, 2022•28 min
David Gerstel has written some of the top books available for construction professionals who want to build a better business. His latest book, Building Freedom: A Construction Pro's Path to Financial Independence , is the topic of today's conversation. We cover some novel concepts from David such as Employee-Centered Companies, thinking errors that hold us back, his research on selling construction companies, and more. In the episode we discuss a few books: Small Giants: Companies That Choose to...
Aug 15, 2022•1 hr 30 min
We are visiting with Amy Kerr of Sub-Zero Wolf Cove to discuss supply chain updates and new innovations in their appliance lines. This episode is a short one, but full of great updates. Enjoy! Tools to make more money and grow your biz Need a little help growing your business or making more money at it? In addition to almost 100 free episodes of the podcast, check out The Building Optimal Shop , a place where we have business tools for builders and contractors…and the list is growing. Or, if you...
Aug 01, 2022•14 min
Wally Staples is back. This time, we talk specifics of his employee compensation practices as well as some of his principles for being an "anti-fragile" builder. And don't miss my first interview with Wally, #68: Ensuring Profitability and Employees First with Wally Staples . Enjoy the episode! Tools to make more money and grow your biz Need a little help growing your business or making more money at it? In addition to almost 100 free episodes of the podcast, check out the Building Optimal Shop ...
Jun 24, 2022•44 min
Vik Szemerei is the Vice President of Sales for luxury plumbing company, House of Rohl . They own brands such as Riobel, Victoria and Albert, and Rohl. We discuss cool new plumbing trends like aromatherapy shower heads , hand-crafted fireclay sinks , touchless faucets , and more. And, to my delight, Vik explains the rise in popularity of biophilic design as we find ways to make our homes healthier and more comfortable. Enjoy the episode! Tools to make more money and grow your biz Need a little h...
Jun 05, 2022•35 min
Jared shares some of the lessons from his home building journey, and announces the latest offering from Building Optimal...our Builder Accelerator, to help others find success and build a great company. To learn more about the Builder Accelerator, go to: https://www.buildingoptimal.com/the-builder-accelerator Use code LAUNCH between now and 5/19/22 For 20% off all our products at the Building Optimal Shop. As always, a special thanks to our show sponsors: Lowe’s and the new Lowe’s MVP Pro Reward...
May 11, 2022•11 min
There are a lot of misconceptions about Zip System .® Mike Dye, Senior Engineer at Huber Engineered Woods , joins us to dispel those and also provide some useful ideas to improve the efficiency and sustainability of your builds. Enjoy the episode! New products launching in the Building Optimal Shop! Need a little help growing your business or making more money at it? In addition to almost 100 free episodes of the podcast, check out the Building Optimal Shop, a place where we have business tools ...
Apr 17, 2022•16 min
RAM Windows has emerged as one of the leading window manufacturers in the State of Texas and beyond. We use their modern-design, aluminum windows on most of our projects (you can see them on our recent Kennelwood project here ). As a brand partner of ours, I’ve gotten to personally know Eric Spence, President and CEO. It’s easy to see why RAM has experienced the growth trajectory it has with him at the helm. He is a superb leader and a master with all things windows and building science. In this...
Mar 28, 2022•57 min
Brian Potter is the author of Construction Physics , the best blog on construction news and innovation that I've found. " Why It's Hard to Innovate in Construction " is one of my favorite and a central theme in today's discussion. Brian is a structural engineer by training. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Progress and previously led an engineering team at Katerra. Enjoy the episode! Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM m...
Feb 28, 2022•38 min
This is one of my favorite conversations to date with Luke Mezger, a top builder from Austin, Texas. Luke is Owner of Mezger Homes , a superb leader, and a brilliant student of the game. He lays out probably a dozen actionable tips most of us can implement today to build a better company. Enjoy the episode! Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM me on Instagram @buildingoptimal or send me an email at jared@gossettco.com. And thank you to Lowe’...
Jan 05, 2022•53 min
Austin Miller is an Australian carpenter and builder who moved to Canada six years ago to build in the remote Arctic. In this episode we are exploring how building works in one of the world's most inhospitable places. If nothing else, this episode will make you extremely grateful next time you are looking for a bolt on your own jobsite (gotta listen to understand)! Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM me on Instagram @buildingoptimal or send...
Dec 12, 2021•48 min
Gabe Jewell is CEO of MT Copeland , a new online education platform to learn the building and construction trades. We need more affordable, accessible education within our industry. It’s why I started Building Optimal, and it’s why I’m a fan of what Gabe and his team are doing. Check out the episode to learn about what these innovators are doing to help builders, and you just may find a class you want to take. I have no financial incentive, btw. Just like what these guys are about! Keep up to da...
Nov 04, 2021•16 min
Pre-selling your homes under construction isn’t all rainbows and kittens, as many veterans know. Check out this short episode to learn the pros, cons, and nuances of pre-selling. Plus, I share some of my own strategies for crafting a more favorable pre-sell for your company. Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM me on Instagram @buildingoptimal or send me an email at jared@gossettco.com. And thank you to Lowe’s for sponsoring today’s episode!...
Oct 16, 2021•24 min
A messy or worse, non-existent, change order system can sink a home builder. What should be a source of profits is often a place of loss and chaos. We can fix that in a hurry, though. Here is my company’s strategy to change order the right way. Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM me on Instagram @buildingoptimal or send me an email at jared@gossettco.com. Learn more about Lowe’s for Pros HERE Sign up for the best newsletter on the planet HE...
Sep 28, 2021•8 min
The success of every project is built upon meeting, or better, exceeding expectations. So it stands to reason that one of your many jobs as a builder is to proactively address with clients topics that could later become issues. In this episode I share 12 topics I always cover with new clients as soon as we enter into our pre-construction agreement. Have any topics you want me to discuss, guests to interview, or feedback about the show? DM me on Instagram @buildingoptimal or send me an email at j...
Sep 06, 2021•18 min
